Many of my favorite movies were not nominated for the Best Picture category at the Oscars and I am actually pretty critical of many movies nominated for or having won the Best Picture statue. However, from the inception of the award category up until the year of 2011, here are my top ten picks for the best Best Picture winners.
10. “Crash” – This Oscar Winner for Best Picture from 2005 has a lot of haters. The racism theme is not underlying at all, but very heavy-handed throughout and the story formula itself reminded me of a knockoff Paul Thomas Anderson attempt; ala “Magnolia.” However, I choose to think it did not win because of the social grounds it tried to cover, but because it also happened to provide some entertainment! Personally in 2005 I would have voted for the slower, “Capote” for Best Picture, but still feel they got it right with “Crash.” The scene in which Matt Dillion’s character pulls Thandie Newton’s out of the wrecked car gives me chills no matter how many times I have seen it.
9. “Slumdog Millionaire” – Director Danny Boyle came through again with this movie. I had my doubts, but he took us on an adventure through the slums of India and ran away with the Best Picture award; though I would not have been entirely disappointed if “Milk” had won in 2008 instead. An entertaining ride, “Slumdog Millionaire” packs some emotional punch, but it only ends up as number nine on my list because the knockout blow never came for me. Danny Boyle uses music better than most in his films to portray emotion, but I will say the ending dance sequence for the movie was a bit NOT Best Picture worthy; silly.
8. “The Hurt Locker” – The Best Picture category was crowded in 2009, but “The Hurt Locker” was easily my choice amongst the nominees. I saw this one in the theater and left with an adrenaline rush. I really enjoyed the simple ending and how the movie was more or less an Indie style character piece accented with the explosive big budget style set pieces. This movie is good for a few views, though after more than a few I did feel like the plot was hampered by the action set pieces being less organic to the mix and more like keep your attention space filler.
7. “Forrest Gump” – The trouble with this movie is it tried something slightly new and became such a big part of pop culture that to watch it is almost like watching a parody of a movie; not sure if I can explain myself without too many words on that one. Some of the humor does not hold up, but “Forrest Gump” is great as a movie that you can jump into at any point in the story and find it quite watch-able. A classic and quite worthy over it’s competition in 1994. “Forrest Gump” beat out “Pulp Fiction” which was good, but many really cry foul over it beating “The Shawshank Redeption.” I think “The Shawshank Redemption” is an overrated melodramatic prison soap opera with some really cheesy dialog. Or is it also a case of pop culture status turning on the material?
6. “The Departed” – Always a good watch, but then again I am a big fan of gangster films. This movie has too many clustered together parts for its own good with enough loose ends to confuse many viewers, but the tine set with the movie from the opening is maintained and strong all the way until the bloody ending.
5. “Dances With Wolves” – I have not seen this movie in a little while and perhaps I should not be so quick to list it at number five. However, I know when I was younger that I was able to sit through this long Western time and time again. My appreciation for slower films has only grown with age, so if the kid in me could stand it, I’m sure it still stands it’s own against competition. I am also biased because there are that many great modern made Westerns and my father’s enjoyment of the genre has always made me interested in such films. Well, made, and deserving of all of its success.
4. “Braveheart” – An epic battle movie that Mel Gibson took to the next level with his personable acting. Compare this to another battle type of movie that won Best Picture, “Gladiator,” and I am sorry Russell Crowe fans, but “Braveheart” is the gory winner hands down for me.
3. “American Beauty” – A Best Picture winner that suffered some serious critical backlash, similar to the haters with “Crash.” However, I think “American Beauty” is a satirical classic that not only skewered many aspects of society and suburbia, but managed to pack some emotion into the dark, rich tapestry.
2. “Casablanca” – I was born in the 80s and as you can see from my list thus far: I don’t like many really old movies. The movie “Casablanca” surprised the heck out of me when I watched it and found myself moved by it. It takes a bit to get into the story as it sort of opens with everything in progress, but soon I was wooed by the charms of the actors and the emotional vibe of the entire piece. “Casablanca” won the Oscar for Best Picture in 1943 and has stood the test of time.
1. “Unforgiven” – In 1992 “Unforgiven” was the clear winner for the Best Picture Oscar in my opinion. Directed by and starring Clint Eastwood it is one of his most powerfully entertaining works to me. The harsh violence of the old West meets some serious drama and it holds all of the bullets so far in the Best Picture gunfight.